North Island Lodge Report: August 11, 2009

August 11, 2009 | 1012 Views

Reading Screamer’s Clubhouse report from a couple of weeks ago, and the performance he put on over lunch today. I felt I should give him a mention.

For those have you that have not met Mike (Screamer’s real name), he resembles Captain Sig Hansen from the famous series Deadliest Catch, and like Sig, he’s extremely proud of his Norwegian heritage. He’s a fisherman, character and extremely aware of what is going on above and below deck around here. I still wonder how many channels he monitors on his VHF radio?

A couple of days ago, he caught mumblings on our channel that I was looking for a guide from the Clubhouse to fill in for the afternoon shift. Without hesitation, he got on the radio and went off on a tangent, telling me I was getting soft and that I should just suit up and get out on the front line. It was a verbal masterpiece, or diarrhea, depending on who you talk to. Yes, decades of guiding will taint a man just a little. It’s a good thing I understand his humor and mental state better than most on the island.

Sure, he’s a good fisherman but it’s in between bites where he shines. A few stories, sports talk, the latest news story and even the odd ridiculous prop on board. So, if you are considering a trip to the Clubhouse; enjoy a good story, a few laughs, and to be completely honest, are not easily offended. Take a ride on the “Scream Machine”, you won’t be disappointed. Just ask North Island staffer Lindsay Davis, who fished Lacy Island with Mike this afternoon landing this 57.7lb monster on her lunch break. This fish was quickly measured and released to live another day. Not bad for her second Chinook ever!

So, what did you do over lunch today?

Back to last weekend, where Screamer’s unique motivational approach inspired me to leave any tasks I had planned that afternoon and start rigging some rods. I went out with a game plan choosing Guinia Pt to start. This spot is famous for monster Chinook, but by no means a sure thing. In fact, I remember spending many shifts explaining to my guests that sitting there waiting for “the one” was the right thing to do, while other boats had already picked up several fish up the east side of Langara. It’s a tough one to juggle, a gamble that can make you look like a hero or a zero in one shift.

Approaching my first tack, I was probably a little heavy on the wheel, getting back into the guiding groove and working the 50-90ft contour .18 feet of aluminum carving through the pack of boats with precision…At least I like to think so. After a few coho, we had a solid hit with massive headshakes, a surface explosion of the tail that sent the Chinook on a 150 yd line melting run. I turned this boat slowly gaining some line and probably over-coaching angler Rick Mayeda. I have to admit it felt good to be chasing a Tyee around again. Weaving our way through the pack of boats, steering just wide of a couple downriggers (thank you to the two Clubhouse guests that turned to avoid this), I got my chance to scoop as the fish slowly rolled on its side. A quick handshake, two fist pumps and a sweet. We had a 41ber in the bag…. It was sure nice to let the crew know I can still go out and produce in a pinch.

Here’s Rick Mayeda with his 41lber.

Bob Carver and Martin Clingwall sure had some nice totes fishing with guide Matt Connelley. Here they are pairing up to hold Bob’s 49lber.

A total of 7 tyee where caught last trip. The Coho fishing has shown no signs of slowing down, Chinook are still in solid numbers, the winds have been behaving and everyone is leaving with their share of fish stories…Life is good right now on our floating escape.